Gospel Reflections for October 28 2018
On the move!
With all that you have going on, now there is the World Series to follow!
We live in a faced paced world. Maybe your days are filled with driving here and there; off to work, or stores, or school, and then home again, and doing a million little tasks every day. Your life moves fast!
What a contrast to the poor blind man, Bartimaus, in today’s Gospel. He is sitting by himself on the side of a busy road where people are moving quickly back and forth. But his own life is going nowhere. Suddenly, he hears that Jesus is passing by. He seizes the opportunity and takes a desperate chance!
He cries out to the Lord for help, despite the antagonism of the crowd. Bartimaus is a man of profound courage, and that courage is exactly what Jesus recognizes and honors …and so Our Lord calls him forward.
While the crowd dismisses Bartimaus as a pest, Jesus honors him with a simple question, “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus gives him the chance to speak for himself and Bartimaus simply asks. “Lord, I want to see!”
In the ancient world, a blind person who cannot see “outward” was considered to have “in-sight” and could actually “see” deeper realities better than others. Bartimaus accurately “sees” that Jesus is the only one who can change his life. That is why he enthusiastically jumps up to greet Him, throwing aside his only worldly possession, his cloak. Nothing will get in the way of his meeting the Lord! As he hoped, his vision is restored …but that is not all.
He leaves his familiar place beside the road and moves along the road with the Disciples and Our Lord. He changes his life that was going nowhere to one that is now on the move, this time with Jesus. Instead of begging to receive help from others, he will give of himself to help others.
You cannot meet Jesus and stay the same person. His change is the actual sign that his meeting was authentic. Bartimaus finally sees outwardly what he should do with his life. He follows Jesus.
Jesus is still “passing by” your life in many moments throughout the day, as busy as you are. Now you can “stand up” like Bartimaus, throw off your concerns, follow Jesus, and give of yourself to those around you. Like Bartimaus, seize the moment to do something great.
God Bless!
Fr. Dave
Fr. Dave, very powerful words. It’s a very fast paced world out there. I think I need to wake up and smell the coffee. Sometimes it’s easy to get wrapped up in and headed down the wrong path. I can see myself in this situation. You just rattled the ground under me a little and now I feel it’s time to wake up and get back on the right path. Thank you so much. God Bless You.
Thank you so much for your message! I am glad my article is helpful.
Dear Father Dave,
Thanks so much for this synopsis and beautiful reminder!
We should all be so blind that we may see….
God bless you.
Kathleen
Yes, indeed!
Such a good reset to our following of Christ and were we are…I can do and be better!
Thank you for putting us back on that path!
Much love in Christ
Kathy
You are very welcome!
Fr. Dave – excellent little commentary. Thanks for your insight1
You are very welcome!
Beautiful, Fr Dave!
I love how Bartimaeus persisted in calling on Jesus, and his perseverance
was just what Jesus wanted. Oh! that we would do the same
in our times of need!
Yes, we should share in his courage and persistence!
Fr. Dave.
I like how he had so much faith and trust in Jesus that he threw his cloak aside. He believed the Jesus would cure him. He did.
Thank you
God bless
Yes, he threw aside his only possession to follow Our Lord. Amazing!